Asylum seekers must be allowed medical treatment in Australia

Monday 11th February, 2019

The country’s largest union, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is calling on Federal MPs to support an amendment to the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2018, in relation to the transfer of asylum-seekers from offshore detention centres for urgent medical treatment.

The amendment to the Bill, moved by Independent Senator Tim Storer and the Australian Greens, was passed by the Senate on 6 December last year.

ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said politicians must listen to the ongoing concerns from the ANMF, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and Independent MP Dr Kerryn Phelps, about the rights and needs of asylum-seekers to be allowed medical treatment on the mainland when they urgently need it.